Flag Football Rules

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Flag Football Rules Flag Football Rules Divisions Men’s and Women’s Leagues are offered Sub divisions may be created upon need of skill level 1. Team Requirements 1.1 A team shall consist of seven players. A team can play with a minimum of 6 players. 1.2 The offensive team must have 4 players within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap. 1.3 All players must have checked in with the scorekeeper and be recorded on the game sheet before they are allowed to participate. 1.4 Substitutions are allowed between plays and during time-outs. 1.5 All games shall be played on the date and hour scheduled. BE ON TIME. 2. Equipment and Facilities 2.1 All players must wear shoes. 2.2 Rubber cleated shoes will be allowed. No metal screw-in cleats, open toe, open heel or hard soled shoes will be allowed. 2.3 Each player must wear pants or shorts without any belt(s), belt loop(s), pockets(s) or exposed drawstrings. A player may turn his/her shorts inside-out or tape his/her pockets in order to play. 2.4 All jewelry must be removed before participating. 2.5 Towels may not be worn, a towel may be kept behind the play. 2.6 Equipment such as helmets, billed hats, pads or braces worn above the waist, leg and knee braces made of hard, unyielding substances, or casts is strictly prohibited. Knee braces made of hard, unyielding substances covered on both sideswith all edges overlapped and any other hard substances covered with at least 2 inch of slow recovery rubber or similar material will be allowed. 2.7 Each player must wear a one piece belt, without any knots, at the waistline with three flags permanently attached. Flags must have a spring loaded clip. Teams must use flags provided by IM. 2.8 Teams must wear similar colored shirts or mesh jerseys provided by IM. Shirts must be tucked in the players pants or cut off a minimum of 4 inches above the top of the flag belt. 2.9 The official ball will be one supplied by IM. Teams may use a legal ball of their choice when in possession. 2.10 Time and score will be kept by the on-site score keeper. 2.11 Two discs will be used to mark the offensive and defensive scrimmage line. There will always be a 1 yard neutral zone on all plays. 3. Start of Game and Timing 3.1 Three minutes before the start of the game, the referee will conduct a captain's meeting in which he/she will designate which captain shall play rock, paper ,scissors and the best 2 out of 3 tries wins(The OBU way…) The captain winning has the options for the first half or shall defer their option to the second half. The options for each half shall be: a .To choose whether his/her team will take the ball or defer. b. To choose the goal his/her team will defend. The captain, not having the first choice of options for a half, shall exercise the remaining option. 3.2 Games will consist of two halves of 22 minutes each with a 3 minute half-time. Timing will be continuous for the first half, and the first 20 minutes of the second half. Only team and official time-outs can stop the clock. The last two minutes before the end of the second half the referee shall stop the clock as in a regular game. 3.3 If a team is leading by 17 points or more in the final two minutes of the game, the mercy rule will be put into effect and the game will be over. 3.4 During the final two minutes of the game, the clock will stop for: a. Incomplete legal or illegal forward pass - starts on the snap. b. Out of bounds - starts on the snap. c. Safety - starts when the free kick is legally touched. d. Team time-out - starts on the snap. e. First downs - dependent on the previous play. f. Touchdowns - starts on the snap (after the try). g. Penalties - dependent on the previous play. h. Touchback - starts on the snap. I. Inadvertent whistle - starts on the ready. j. Either team awarded a new series - starts on the snap. 3.5 Two time-outs a half is allowed per team. It will not carry over to the next half. Timeouts will be one minute. 3.6 The ball must be put into play no more than 25 seconds after the official has placed the ball. The play clock will be kept by the official. 4. Game Rules 4.1 Length of the field shall be 80 yards by 40 yards with 10 yard end zones, yard markings every 20 yards. 4.2 The ball will be placed on the 14 yard line after every touchdown. 4.3 A team shall have four consecutive downs to advance to the next zone line-to- gain (and earn a first down). 4.4 The zone line-to-gain in any series shall be the zone in advance of the ball, unless distance has been lost due to penalty or failure to gain. 4.5 A new series of downs will be awarded when a team moves the ball into the next zone on a play free from penalty. 5. Flag Belt Removal 5.1 When the flag belt is taken from the runner, the down shall end and the ball is declared dead. A player who removes the flag belt from the runner should immediately hold the flag belt above his/her head to assist the official in locating the spot where the capture occurred. A ball carrier is considered de-flagged when the clip of the flag belt becomes detached, not where the belt falls to the ground. 5.2 If a flag belt inadvertently falls off, a one hand tag between the shoulders and the knees constitutes a capture. 5.3 A player may leave his/her feet to remove a flag. 5.4 In an attempt to remove the flag belt from the ball carrier, defensive players may contact the body of an opponent with his/her hands. A defensive player may not hold, push or knock the ball carrier down in an attempt to remove the flag. 5.5 A defensive player may not remove an offensive player's flag when the offensive player does not have the ball. Similarly, the defensive player may not remove the quarterback's flag after the ball has been thrown. Penalty: Illegal flag belt removal, 10 yards. 5.6 A defensive player may not remove an offensive receiver's belt prior to the receiver touching the ball. Penalty: Defensive pass interference, 10 yard and automatic first down. (Spot Foul) 5.7 A player may not fasten his flags to his uniform or belt other than prescribed in the rules. Penalty: 10 yards The official will check the flags of each person who scores a touchdown or PAT. If a player removes their flag belt prior to one of the officials checking the flag belt, the score will be disallowed. 5.8 All players on the field must wear flags. Failure to do so will result in a five yard penalty, if noticed prior to the ball being snapped. If noticed after the ball has been snapped, then the player without a flag belt must be touched with one hand between the shoulders and knees (after the ball has been snapped, a penalty cannot be assessed). 5.9 Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to remove the flag a. Placing or swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging. b. Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging. c. Lowering the shoulders in such a manner which places the arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging. Penalty: Flag Guarding, 10 yards. d. An offensive player may not stiff arm to ward off an opponent. Penalty: Personal Foul, 10 yards. 6. Dead Ball 6.1 A live ball becomes dead a . When it goes out-of-bounds. b. A legal de-flagging occurs by the defense. c . The ball carrier touches the ground with any part of their body other than the hands or feet (ball is part of hand). d. A touchdown, touchback, safety, or successful try is made. d. A forward pass strikes the ground or is caught simultaneously by opposing players e. Whenever the ball hits the ground. 1. A fumble. 2. A snap from the center touches the ground (dead at the spot where it hits the ground). 3. When a muff of a punt strikes the ground. f. When an official sounds his/her whistle inadvertently during a down. 7. Position and Action During the Snap 7.1 The center, after assuming the position for the snap and adjusting the ball, may not move nor change the position of adjusting the ball, may not move nor change the position of the ball in a manner simulating the beginning of a play. The ball must be snapped in one continuous motion, not necessarily between the center's legs. The player receiving the snap must be 2 yards off the ball for a scrimmage play and for a punt. Penalty: Illegal procedure. 7.2 All offensive players must be momentarily within 15 yards of the ball.
Recommended publications
  • 11-Player Youth Tackle Rules Guide Table of Contents
    FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT MODEL usafootball.com/fdm 11-PLAYER YOUTH TACKLE RULES GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .....................................................................................................2 1 Youth Specific Rules ..........................................................................3 2 Points of Emphasis ............................................................................4 3 Timing and Quarter Length ...........................................................5 4 Different Rules, Different Levels ..................................................7 5 Penalties ..................................................................................................7 THANK YOU ESPN USA Football sincerely appreciates ESPN for their support of the Football Development Model Pilot Program INTRODUCTION Tackle football is a sport enjoyed by millions of young athletes across the United States. This USA Football Rules Guide is designed to take existing, commonly used rule books by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NCAA and adapt them to the youth game. In most states, the NFHS rule book serves as the foundational rules system for the youth game. Some states, however, use the NCAA rule book for high school football and youth leagues. 2 2 / YOUTH-SPECIFIC RULES USA Football recommends the following rules be adopted by youth football leagues, replacing the current rules within the NFHS and NCAA books. Feel free to print this chart and provide it to your officials to take to the game field. NFHS RULE NFHS PENALTY YARDAGE USA FOOTBALL RULE EXPLANATION 9-4-5: Roughing/Running Into the Roughing = 15; Running Into = 5 All contact fouls on the kicker/holder Kicker/Holder result in a 15-yard penalty (there is no 5-yard option for running into the kicker or holder). 9-4-3-h: Grasping the Face Mask Grasping, pulling, twisting, turning = 15; All facemask fouls result in a 15-yard incidental grasping = 5 penalty (there is no 5-yard option for grasping but not twisting or pulling the facemask).
    [Show full text]
  • Addendum to 2011-12 Ncaa Football Rules
    COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC ADDENDUM TO 2011-12 NCAA FOOTBALL RULES Editor’s note Since publication of the 2011 and 2012 Football Rules and Interpretations there have been a number of editorial changes and other modifications to the rules section. This addendum comprises these changes, including the new rules adopted in 2012. Rule 2-10 Adjacent Sideline (New article) ARTICLE 10. a. For a player stationary or in motion at the snap, the adjacent sideline is the sideline to his outside. b. For a player in motion who is effectively behind the snapper at the snap and it is not clear which is the sideline to his outside, the adjacent sideline is the sideline toward which he is moving. Rule 3-2-4 c. 25-Second Clock (New item) 13. An offensive team player’s helmet comes completely off during the down. The play clock is set to 40 seconds if the helmet comes completely off a player of the defensive team. [Exception: If there is an option for a 10-second subtraction in either half the play clock is set at 25 seconds for any player.] Rule 3-3-2 e.Starts on the Referee’s Signal (New item) 16. A player’s helmet comes completely off during the down. Rule 3-3-9 Helmet Comes Off—Timeout (New Article) ARTICLE 9. a. If during the down a player’s helmet comes completely off, other than as the direct result of a foul by an opponent, the player must leave the game for the next down. The game clock will stop at the end of the down.
    [Show full text]
  • Positioning and Coverage - Scrimmage Plays
    POSITIONING AND COVERAGE - SCRIMMAGE PLAYS Goal Line Plays – Offense Going In Umpire: There are no differences from regular scrimmage downs for the Umpire A touchdown can be scored on any play except he should be careful not to and it must be clear which official has position himself on the goal line which the prime responsibility for covering the could block the wing’s view of the runner. goal line. The touchdown signal is given only by Linesman and Line Judge: There are an official who actually sees the ball in no differences from regular scrimmage possession of a runner break the plane downs for the wing officials. of the goal line. Mirroring the signal is verboten and dangerous; if the covering Back Judge: The Back Judge’s distance official is incorrect, the crew will find it from the goal line will decrease as the difficult to overcome two officials making spot of the snap gets closer to the goal a mistake. If the covering official is line. The table below summarizes the correct, there is no need for a second initial position for the Back Judge. When signal. the ball is snapped between Team B’s 25 yard line and their 15 yard line, he must There are very few circumstances under be on the goal line, but not in front of any which the Referee is responsible for the defensive player. If the ball is snapped goal line and the Umpire would almost inside Team B’s 10 yard line, the Back never declare a touchdown. Under most Judge must be on the end line and will circumstances, a wing official will be in a not give it up if there is any chance it will much better position to rule if the ball has be threatened.
    [Show full text]
  • Flag Football Rules
    Flag Football Rules Divisions Men’s and Women’s Leagues are offered Sub divisions may be created upon need of skill level 1. Team Requirements 1.1 A team shall consist of seven players. A team can play with a minimum of 6 players. 1.2 The offensive team must have 4 players within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap. 1.3 All players must have checked in with the scorekeeper and be recorded on the game sheet before they are allowed to participate. 1.4 Substitutions are allowed between plays and during time-outs. 1.5 All games shall be played on the date and hour scheduled. BE ON TIME. 2. Equipment and Facilities 2.1 All players must wear shoes. 2.2 Rubber cleated shoes will be allowed. No metal screw-in cleats, open toe, open heel or hard soled shoes will be allowed. 2.3 Each player must wear pants or shorts without any belt(s), belt loop(s), pockets(s) or exposed drawstrings. A player may turn his/her shorts inside-out or tape his/her pockets in order to play. 2.4 All jewelry must be removed before participating. 2.5 Towels may not be worn, a towel may be kept behind the play. 2.6 Equipment such as helmets, billed hats, pads or braces worn above the waist, leg and knee braces made of hard, unyielding substances, or casts is strictly prohibited. Knee braces made of hard, unyielding substances covered on both sideswith all edges overlapped and any other hard substances covered with at least 2 inch of slow recovery rubber or similar material will be allowed.
    [Show full text]
  • Flag Football Rules Play/Rules Default to NIRSA Flag Football Rules in Regards to Any Situation Not Listed Below: II
    4 v. 4 Flag Football Adaptations 7 v. 7 / 8 v. 8 Rules Begin Below 4v.4 follows the same rules as the 7 v. 7 Flag Football besides the following exceptions. AREA OF PLAY. 1. The field shall be 60 yards long by 30 yards wide. The length of the field shall be divided into two 20-yard zones and two 10-yard end zones. 2. The 3-yard scoring line shall be marked with a line. 3. The 10-yard First Possession / Scoring Line shall be marked with an X. Men’s, Women’s, & Co-Rec Games 1. Each team will play with no more than four (4) players on the field at once. The minimum number of players required to start and continue a game is three (3). 2. The maximum number of players any roster may have is twelve (12) Timing A. Game Timing: 1. The game will consist of two - 12 minute halves with a 1 Minute Warning, followed by a Start- Stop Clock 2. The last minute of both halves will continue under a regularly stopped-clock for all dead-ball situations. Scoring A. Tiebreaker 1. During the regular season, if time allows, each team will be allowed the opportunity to attempt to score from the 3-yard line (1 point), 10-yard line (2 points), or 20-yard line (3 points). Only one overtime will be allowed. 2. During the Playoffs, teams will play in continuous overtimes until a winner emerges. Teams will alternate 1st and 2nd attempts in each consecutive overtime. Time-Outs A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hubris Penalty: Biased Responses to “Celebration” Displays of Black Football Players
    Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 48 (2012) 899–904 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Experimental Social Psychology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jesp Reports The hubris penalty: Biased responses to “Celebration” displays of black football players Erika V. Hall, Robert W. Livingston ⁎ Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA article info abstract Article history: We posit that pride and arrogance are tolerated for high-status group members but are repudiated for low-status Received 1 September 2011 group members. Thus, we predict that Blacks, but not Whites, who behave arrogantly will be penalized. Specif- Revised 13 January 2012 ically, we investigated the context of penalties against football players for “celebrating” after touchdowns. We Available online 13 February 2012 propose that such celebrations reflect a racially biased “hubris penalty” because: (1) celebrations are primarily perceived as displays of arrogance (rather than exuberance), and (2) arrogance is penalized for Black but not Keywords: White players. Three experiments demonstrate that all players who celebrated after touchdowns were perceived Prejudice Stereotyping as more arrogant than those who did not celebrate. Although celebratory Black and White players were Social dominance perceived as being equally arrogant, Black players were penalized with lower compensation whereas White Race players were not. Mediation analyses show that perceived arrogance mediated the effect of celebration on com- pensation, even when controlling for perceived aggression. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. A virulent controversy erupted when NBA superstar LeBron James myths (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999), or system-justifying beliefs (Jost & announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Banaji, 1994), that prescribe certain roles, traits, and behaviors to Miami Heat during a grandiose, hour-long ESPN special report.
    [Show full text]
  • LV GRIDIRON ADULT FLAG FOOTBALL 5V5 LEAGUE RULES
    LV GRIDIRON ADULT FLAG FOOTBALL 5v5 LEAGUE RULES Rules and Regulations RULE 1: THE GAME, FIELD, PLAYERS & EQUIPMENT Section 1 – The Game • No contact allowed. • NO BLOCKING/SCREENING anytime or anywhere on the field. Offensive players not involved with a play down field must attempt to get out of the way or stand still. • A coin toss determines first possession. • Play starts from the 5 yard line. The offensive teams has (3) plays to cross mid-field. Once team crosses mid-field, they will have three (3) plays to score a touchdown. • If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field or score, possession of the ball changes and the opposite team starts their drive from their 5-yard line. • Each time the ball is spotted a team has 25 seconds to snap the ball. • Games consist of 2-15 minute halves. Teams will flip sides at beginning of 2nd half. Half time will be 1 minutes. • Overtime; 1st overtime from 5 line, 2nd overtime if still tied from 10 yard line, 3rd overtime if still tied 15 yard line. After 3rd time if still tied game is scored as a tie. • Spot of ball is location of the ball when play is ruled dead Section 2 – Attire • Teams may use their own flags. • Shirts with numbers are mandatory for stats RULE 2: PLAYERS/GAME SCHEDULES, SCORING & TIME OUTS Section 1 – Players/Game Schedules • If a team or teams are more than 10 minutes late for their scheduled games they will be forfeited. After 10 minutes the game will be forfeited and the score recorded as 10-0.
    [Show full text]
  • American University Intramurals
    University of California, Merced - Intramurals Flag Football Rules Intramural flag football games will be conducted under the rules of the NIRSA – National Intramural/Recreational Sports Association – with the following modifications. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. All participants must have their current valid UCM ID with them to participate. No player will be allowed to play without their own valid UCM ID. Players must have also completed the registration process and joined the team on IMLeagues. 2. The players must check-in with the supervisor on duty, which will check their UCM ID and verify completion on IMLeagues. 3. A player may play for ONE men’s or women’s team. Any intercollegiate football player that participated in the 2017 football season at any collegiate institution is ineligible to participate in intramural football. 4. Teams may add players under the following circumstances: a. The player must not have played for another team in their respective division. b. The player must have a joined the team for that sport. c. The player must show his/her valid UCM ID to the supervisor to check-in prior to the game. 5. All men’s and women’s divisions play 7 on 7 flag football. 6. See the attached diagram for field layout and dimensions. Protests: Protests are not allowed on judgment calls. Team managers may protest a misapplication of the rule before the snap of the next play to staff on duty. The supervisor and officials will decide before the next play. The team manager may protest the game at that point if they believe that the decision is still incorrect.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fundamentals of Combination Blocks By: Wayne Anderson May 2006 Copyright American Football Monthly
    American Football Monthly, Copyrighted Material Page 1 of 4 The Fundamentals of Combination Blocks by: Wayne Anderson May 2006 Copyright American Football Monthly This month’s drill is from Joe Gilbert, Offensive Line Coach for the University of Central Florida. Last fall the Golden Knights engineered the greatest turnaround in Division I-A football. From an 0-11 season in 2004 and a string of 17 consecutive losses, UCF rebounded to an 8-3 regular season, hosted the Conference USA Championship Game and earned a trip to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. In Gilbert’s first season at UCF in 2004, he coached the nation’s youngest offensive line that started two true freshmen and three sophomores. Prior to UCF, Gilbert helped develop one of the nation's top offensive lines at Toledo. In 2002, the Rockets ranked fifth in the nation in total offense and 11th in scoring. He also coached at Maine, Northeasetern, and Pennsylvania. He was a four-year starter at Hamilton College and became the first Hamilton player, as a senior, to earn first team All-American honors. Coach Gilbert’s drill teaches the fundamentals of combination blocks. Included with this drill are double team drills, drive blocks on a double team, blocking the second level linebacker, and taking over the down defender. Combination Blocks Combo Drill: This drill teaches offensive linemen the fundamentals of all combination blocks. This will help train your offensive linemen from the double team or zone combination at the line of scrimmage to the blocking of a second level linebacker. Equipment: • Four players – two offensive linemen and two defensive players • Two hand shields..
    [Show full text]
  • WFFN National League Rules
    ***Credit given to the AFFL organization for the creation of these rules. Covid compliance guidelines will supersede any rules that may conflict with those guidelines. WFFN National League Rules 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Field 2. Pre-Game 3. The Throw-Off 4. Offensive Play, Sets of Downs and Huddles 5. Scoring 6. Time 7. Possessions & Formations 8. Penalties & Remedies 9. Ball 10. Rosters & Uniforms 11. Referees and Staff 12. Definitions 13. Miscellaneous Rules 14. Referee Signals 1. FIELD 1.1. The playing field shall be 120 yards long, with a width of 53 1/3 yards. 1.2. The four intersections of Goal Lines and Sidelines must be marked at inside corners of the End Zone and the Goal Line by pylons. Pylons must be placed at inside edges of white lines and should not touch the Field of Play. Pylons should also be placed at the 2 intersections of the Sidelines and the 50-yard Line, as well as the four intersections of Sidelines and 25-yard Lines. 1.3. All lines must be marked with a material that is not harmful to a person’s eyes or skin, and should be four inches wide, except for the Goal Lines, which should be eight inches wide. 1.4. All benches and other rigid features must be 10 yards or further back from the Out of Bounds line. If space permits these features may be placed further back. 1.5. The playing surface shall consist of grass or artificial turf. 1.6. The field will be as represented in Figure 1.
    [Show full text]
  • History American Football Evolved from Rugby, Which Was a Spin-Off from Soc- Cer
    History American football evolved from rugby, which was a spin-off from soc- cer. Early roots of the modern game can be traced to a college game played in 1869 Answer the questions. between Princeton and Rutgers universities. Each team had 25 men on the field; 1. What do you know the game more resembled soccer then football, as running with the ball, passing and about flag football? tackling were not allowed. Harvard and McGill universities played a game in 1874 that combined elements of rugby and soccer’ this game caught on in eastern U.S. 2. Describe how to grip schools and developed into the beginnings of modern football and throw the football. Early rules included playing with a round ball and needing to make 5 yards in three downs. Rules have continually evolved to make the game fair, exciting, 3. Why was the game of and less violent. From its beginnings in America on college campuses, football has flag football invented? grown into a widely popular sport in the United States, where it is played in youth leagues, in high schools, and professionally. Football games are played all over the 4. What is the primary world, although it is not a great spectator sport outside the United States. There is a objective of flag foot- National Football League (NFL) Europe league, made up mostly of American players, with rules basically the same as in the NFL in the United States. ball? Flag Football is believed to have begun in the U.S. military during World 5. Where should you War II.
    [Show full text]
  • Flag Football Rules
    Flag Football Rules Table of Contents Rule I. The Game, Playing Field, & Equipment ................................................................................................... 3 Rule II. Definitions of Playing Terms .................................................................................................................... 5 Rule III. Periods, Time Factors, and Substitutions .............................................................................................. 9 Rule IV. Live Ball, Ball in Play, Dead Ball, and Out of Bounds ...........................................................................11 Rule V. Series of Downs, Number of Down, & Team Possession After Penalty ................................................12 Rule VI. Declared Free Kick .................................................................................................................................13 Rule VII. Snapping, Handing, and Passing the Ball .............................................................................................15 Rule VIII. Scoring Plays and Touchbacks ...........................................................................................................18 Rule IX. Conduct of the Players ...........................................................................................................................19 Rule X. Enforcement of Penalties ........................................................................................................................22 Rule XI. Tie Game ................................................................................................................................................24
    [Show full text]